Robert Simons by Vinka Lakic

 


The son of Frederick Quartermaine Simons and Mabel Bessie Simons, Robert Frederick Simons was born on 24 September 1921, in his hometown of Hindmarsh, in the City of Charles Sturt, South Australia. Robert was one of four children, and the brother of Rhonda, Elizabeth and Reginald Leslie Simons.

At nineteen years of age, Simons enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on 18 March 1940. He was based at Darwin’s RAAF SHQ (Station Headquarters), and was assigned the service number, 26040. Robert was appointed the position of guard. Prior to the Second World War, Darwin’s No. 12 Squadron, which was equipped with Avro Anson and Wirraway aircrafts, and flew convoy escorts and flew routine patrols, had no guards. With the donation of .50 calibre machine guns provided by the Americans, the defence of RAAF Station Darwin was exclusively implemented by RAAF Guards, not the Australian Army; and so on 10 February 1942, over one-hundred guards arrived at RAAF Station Darwin – inclusive of Simons.

In his defence of RAFF Station Darwin, Corporal Simons became the RAAF’s first Guard fatality in combat, when he died in a weapon pit near the Motor Transport Section. He died on 19 February 1942, just short of his 21st birthday, the same day of the Bombing of Darwin. Eight days later a second guard’s life was taken when an anti-personnel bomb was dropped from a Japanese aircraft.

Robert Frederick Simons’ bravery and determination was impeccably mature for his young age; he fought with great enthusiasm for his beloved country. He exemplified the traits of hard work and sacrifice. May the spirit of Robert Frederick Simons enlighten the world forevermore.

                                                          Lest We Forget


References:

Barlow, D. (2023) Robert Frederick Simons, Virtual War Memorial | Robert Frederick SIMONS. Virtual War Memorial LTD. Available at: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/533149 (Accessed: April 1, 2023).

Carwardine, S.S. (202AD) Defending the Nest: A History and Analysis of Airfield Defence Policy in the Royal Australian Air Force. thesis. UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND. Available at: https://rune.une.edu.au/web/bitstream/1959.11/29874/8/openpublished/CarwardineSeanPhD2020Thesis.pdf (Accessed: April 2, 2023).

MyHeritage, C. (2017) Corp.. Robert Frederick Simons, geni_family_tree. Geni.com. Available at: https://www.geni.com/people/Corp-Robert-Simons/6000000062634998901 (Accessed: April 1, 2023).

NAA, G.O.V. (2023) Robert Fredericks Simons. NAA.GOV.AU. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=1059699&S=1&N=22&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=1059699&T=P&S=1 (Accessed: April 2, 2023). 


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